A teacher was arrested and produced before court on 11 November following an alleged assault on a boy at the Thirunelveli Saiva Boys’ Home, run by the Saiva Vidya Viruthi Sangam. The incident reportedly occurred on the night of 2 November, when the student sustained a head injury during evening lessons.
According to allegations detailed in a complaint by Sangam secretary Thavarupan, the teacher, identified as Sivanesa Mayuran, was a serving police officer who had also been engaged to teach part-time at the home. The complaint alleges that he was allowed to work there without the registered management committee’s knowledge or approval, with the permission of the Sangam’s education programme director, Dr. Para Nandakumar.
The complaint further alleges that the home’s management secretary had previously raised concerns about the teacher’s conduct with the Sangam president, but that the teacher continued to be sent to the home. It also claims that, after the boy was injured, he was taken to a private hospital in Inuvil rather than the nearby teaching hospital, and that the incident was not immediately reported to the police or the Juvenile Court. The complaint alleges that the boy was later told to say in court that his injury had been caused by hitting a table.
The teacher was released on a personal bail of Rs. 300,000. The case was postponed until 27 November.
Thavarupan has called for a comprehensive investigation into the teacher’s appointment, the alleged handling of the boy’s injury, and the roles of Sangam officials and child protection authorities. He has also alleged separate disputes within the Sangam’s administration, including an alleged attempt to assault him at a board meeting and the appointment of an acting secretary.
The claims concerning the appointment, response to the incident and Sangam administration have not been independently verified.
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